A few decades ago, the only option for baby bottles were the glass made ones. Due to several safety issues, an alternative had to be found. This is how plastic bottles appeared, an alternative considered more efficient and convenient.
Since being a 24/7 mom was not hard enough, using plastic baby bottles became a real danger for the little ones, an issue causing more headaches for the worried mothers.
You might be tempted to choose plastic baby bottles, over old-school glass bottles, but at what risk? Protect your newborn with this top 5 best baby bottles that mimic breastfeeding.
Risk of Using Plastic Baby Bottles
Plastic baby bottles are more convenient than glass bottles since they are light weighted, resistant and safer against breaking easily when dropped by accident. Despite these so-called advantages, there are concerns over the possible harmful effects on newborns, due to the toxic chemicals used in manufacturing the baby bottles.
Researchers found a certain chemical compound, called bisphenol A (abbreviated as BPA), that proved to be very dangerous for the baby’s further development.
Bisphenol A has a wide use, since 1952, when scientists concluded that this chemical can be used to create polycarbonate, a transparent hard plastic used for a variety of products from compact discs to canned foods, baby bottles, cell phone or other consumer products.
Specialists discovered that after being heated at high temperatures, plastic baby bottles reach very high levels of BPA. The concern is within the laboratory studies, showing that BPA (in low concentrations) has very severe effects on laboratory animals. The main unwanted effects described were:
- increased risk of prostate cancer
- breast cancer
- ovarian cysts
- endometriosis
- early puberty
The 5 Best Baby Bottles that Mimic Breastfeeding
Despite several countries banning the usage of BPA, in manufacturing plastic baby bottles, some companies still do it. In addition, there are many stores that refuse to sell BPA-containing products, hoping it will disappear from the market. Protecting your baby from harmful chemicals is not hard, you might opt for glass baby bottles or look for BPA-free containers.
1. Comotomo Baby Bottle
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If this BPA news scared you a little, it does not mean you should stop using plastic baby bottles, instead look for BPA-free baby feeding bottles that do not incorporate polycarbonate polymers.
These bottles types are made of polyethylene or pre-sterilized polypropylene. Make sure to also choose a Phthalate Free baby bottle, as this chemical is believed to improve the risk of developing asthma.
To make sure your newborn will not reject the bottle, opt for containers having designs closely matching natural suction motions and breastfeeding. The silicone bottle nipples mimic breastfeeding and are BPA-free.
2. Medela Calma Breast Milk Feeding Set
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Another important thing to consider, in choosing the baby bottle, is the feeding speed of the baby. If he/she is hungry or latching stronger, it may be necessary to have a bottle nipple with higher flow.
Pay attention though, as bottle nipples with high milk flow can also lead to the risk of choking and suffocating the baby. Therefore, look for baby bottles offering a flow control valve. In this way, your infant will be safe, because the milk will flow only when he begins the suction motions.
3. The First Years 3 Pack Breastflow Bottle
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The size of the bottle nipple is clearly correlated with infant’s preferences. As they get used with the shape of your breasts, they will not accept anything else not feeling the same and might reject being a bottle-fed baby.
Thus, for this situations, wider-neck containers are recommended, having bottle nipples mimicking suction motions as in the natural breastfeeding. Look also at the flow rate instructions, as they reveal which flow rate is suitable for your infant’s age. For newborns, you shall choose a newborn nipple with a small flow rate.
4. Playtex Baby Nurser Drop-Ins Baby Bottle Disposable Liners
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Newborns are prone to develop colic symptoms which go hand in hand with sleepless nights for both the mother and the infant. The factors causing colic symptoms are unknown, but lately, it is believed that air bubbles formation, during latching, leads to gases and reflux, for the little ones, irritating their digestive systems.
Some bottles come with flexible, stretching bottle nipples with specially designed valves to prevent air formation and reduce colic symptoms. Choose between latex or silicone nipples. The latex made nipples are softer and more flexible, but they do not last long and some babies developed allergies after using them.
Silicone nipples are firmer and keep their shape longer, being a great solution to mimic breastfeeding and fighting against colic symptoms. You can distinguish the two types by looking at their color characteristics. The silicone nipples are clear, transparent, while the latex ones have a dark brown color.
5. Philips AVENT Natural Glass Bottle
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As prevention is better than cure, if you want to avoid any source of chemicals, you can always go for the old-school glass made baby bottles. These items share the same design features, as the plastic ones, in terms of mimicking breastfeeding and fighting against colic symptoms. Sterilizing them it’s easy and efficient, as their material is resistant at high temperatures.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a baby bottle may be difficult as the market offers a wide variety of brands, features, and marketing stories. No matter what type you will choose, remember to follow this simple rules:
- Avoid storing breast milk directly into the bottle (for a long time). The milk must be poured into the baby bottle just before the baby is fed and anything left must be thrown away.
- Do not clean bottles containing polycarbonate and BPA polymers with boiling water or with an aggressive cleaning product, since these factors can facilitate the toxic decomposition of polymers. Washing them with warm water and a delicate cleaning product is recommended.
- Glass bottles showing visible cracks or matte glass need to be replaced right away.
